DNA as Genetic Material — NEET Biology
📚 Practice ConceptIn the previous chapter, you have learnt the inheritance patterns and the genetic basis of such patterns. At the time of Mendel, the nature of those 'factors' regulating the pattern of inheritance was not clear. Over the next hundred years, the nature of the putative genetic material was investigated culminating in the realisation that DNA – deoxyribonucleic acid – is the genetic material, at least for the majority of organisms. In class XI you have learnt that nucleic acids are polymers of nucleotides.
Which of the following statements regarding RNA's properties and its evolutionary significance are NOT correct? S1: The presence of a 2'-OH group in every nucleotide residue of RNA contributes to its enhanced chemical stability and reduced reactivity compared to DNA. S2: Ribozymes, which are RNA molecules with catalytic properties, provide crucial evidence supporting the hypothesis that essential life processes evolved around RNA. S3: DNA is primarily favored for the storage of genetic information due to its single-stranded nature and the presence of uracil, which facilitates rapid mutation. S4: The instability of RNA due to its reactive 2'-OH group and catalytic nature was a key factor that favored the evolution of more stable DNA as the predominant genetic material. S5: While RNA can function as genetic material in some viruses, its additional roles in most organisms are limited to acting solely as a messenger molecule. S6: Viruses with RNA genomes typically exhibit lower mutation rates and slower evolutionary adaptation compared to those with DNA genomes, attributing to RNA's inherent stability.
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